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4 Reasons Why Proper Glue Temperature Is Crucial

We have discussed temperature before, but running glue at the proper temperature is so crucial it's worth bringing up again. Whether you're using hide glue or hot melt glue, you should be aware of the recommended application temperature.

Here's why...

4 Reasons Why Proper Glue Temperature is Crucial

1: Pop-opens - When you are gluing substrates and your turn-ins don't seem to want to adhere properly, you have yourself what we call a "pop-open". They can get extremely annoying (and costly), especially if you're adding extra workers at the end of the line to rub down the turn-ins.

Running your glue too cold is one reason pop-opens could be happening. If the glue is too cold, it will set too quickly. By the time pressure is applied to the turn in, the glue will already have started to dry.

2: Burning the glue - Yes, glue can burn. I'm sure you can imagine, burnt glue is not good for your application OR your equipment. When run at a high temperature, the properties of the glue formula will change and performance will be compromised. Not only will burnt glue begin to perform differently, but it will make a major mess of your machine.

Make sure your glue temperature is not set too high to avoid burning issues.

3: Skewed set times - The speed of set, or the time it takes for the glue to make a bond, will vary greatly depending on how cool or hot the glue runs.

When operating at the recommended temperature, the set time should be the perfect match for your equipment speeds. This is why our lab team requests this information prior to making a product recommendation. Equipment speeds play a big part in recommending the right glue.

If the glue is running too cool, the speed of set will be quicker than desired and you may have issues with getting a good bond. If the glue is running too hot, the speed of set may be slower than desired and could result in having to rub down your glued substrates.

4: Messy equipment - This will happen when you are running your glue too cold. You will begin to experience glue build up on your equipment, forcing your team to halt production and clean the machine.

It's clear to see, proper glue temperature is extremely important. Always make sure to check the recommended operational temperature on the Technical Data Sheet (TDS) of the product you're using.